Rachel Straus - Dance Writer

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Juilliard Dance

 
Published: June 1, 2012
Category: history

Hanya Holm: Bringing German Expressionism to America

By Rachel Straus

Hanya Holm

In 1931, a tiny German woman disembarked from an ocean liner onto a Manhattan pier to open a modern dance school based on principles of German expressionist dance. It was a risky move during the Great Depression, especially with America’s growing anti-immigrant sentiment. But the intrepid Hanya Holm would […]

Published: August 1, 2011
Category: history

Kurt Jooss: The founding father of Tanztheater

By Rachel Straus On the brink of World War II, German choreographer Kurt Jooss arrived in New York with his company to perform. Before curtain, Jooss learned that some black audience members had been barred from their seats. Jooss told the theater administration that unless they amended their whites-only policy, there would be no show. […]

Published: September 2, 2010
Category: composition

Bessie Schönberg

By Rachel Straus Throughout her expansive 65-year career, Bessie Schönberg (1906–1997) became one of America’s most revered composition teachers. She possessed the unique ability to help her students find their own creative voices, and she nurtured the groundbreaking styles of artists as diverse in their approaches as Annie-B Parson, Jerome Robbins, Carolyn Brown, Lucinda Childs, […]

Published: September 1, 2010
Category: composition

History Quiz: Bessie Schönberg

By Rachel Straus 1. What unique ability did Bessie Schönberg possess that led her to become one of the most revered composition teacher? 2. Name some of Schönberg’s former students who went on to become groundbreaking artists. 3. Schönberg directed the nation’s first college dance department at _____ _____ _____, for nearly four decades, establishing […]